Be a Star for One Night! Two Latina small business owners sign up for Pitch your Business Competition
Two contestants first to sign up for the Pitch your Business Competition! Following their dream of Being a Star for One Night, two Latina small business owners are the first contestants registered for the Latina SmallBiz Expo in Newark NJ on November 9, 2017 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. The event is co-hosted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Enterprise Development Center and Media Sponsor Univision 41.
(L) Janny Perez, founder Mi LegaSi and (R) Elizabeth Liz Santiago, founder and CEO Celebritay (photos courtesy of participants)
Be a Star for One Night at the Pitch your Business Competition!
“The enthusiasm is building up quickly as we are still two months away from the event and Latina small business owners are already registering for the competition. We are running a promotion offering a free ad on our Expo Journal if they register for the Pitch your Business Competition before August 31,” said Susana G Baumann, Editor in Chief, LatinasinBusiness.us.
In its third year, the Pitch your Business Competition is an opportunity for Latinas business owners at all stages of their businesses –startups, established, micro-businesses or larger small businesses- to “pitch” their product and their story in front of a qualified group of Media Jurors who will then select a winner, second and third place.
“The only requirements are that these businesses have to be Latina owned –at least 50 percent if it is a partnership-,
Be a Star for One Night!
have a product in hand, and not be a franchised or agent of a larger corporation –such as an agent of a larger makeup company or insurance company,” Baumann said. “We want to bring to the forefront the innovation and creativity of these beautiful Latinas who are creating products and services based on their customer base needs and their own personal stories,” she explained. “Cause related organizations founded and run by Latinas can also participate.”
This year, the winner will have the opportunity to grab a $1000 in Cash Prize, and be promoted on all major regional and local media participating at the event. In addition, they will have an opportunity to work with an event sponsor who will root for their candidate, offer her assistance and support, and continue to work with them after the event.
“In this way, we want to offer our sponsors the opportunity to become closer to these Latina business owners, know their stories, work with them and be invested in their success. In exchange, we ask the participants to become Ambassadors for that brand, and include it in all their activities –blogging, testimonials, speaking engagements or the like- for one year after the event,” Baumann explained.
The Pitch your Business Competition is a great opportunity for both sponsors and contestants working together that will open possibilities to know better the needs of Latina small business owners, adjust their products and services accordingly, and make their brand known as “Latina friendly.”
Table and Pitch $150 (Get your Table for Free when you receive 15 tickets to sell to your friends, family and clients). Bring your product to sell at the event for the pre-Holiday Season!
Register here to become one of the lucky contestants to participate and be the Star for One Night!
Mi LegaSi, connecting to your roots
Janny Perez with her daughter Victoria in NYC
First contestant to signup is Janny Perez, founder of Mi Legasi, a creative way of maintaining American Latinas stay connected to their roots and pass the Latino legacy into their children.
“Mi LegaSí™ is about helping moms with a monthly delivered box that connects them with their Latino culture, nurtures their child’s creativity and the language español, and helps them tell their family’s history and stories with activities that make it easy to create a family heirloom. But we haven’t forgotten about the Mamá! Because they are at the heart of their familia, every month they will get a feel good/feel proud treat. They deserve something just for them,” explained Janny to LatinasinBusiness.us.
Janny, a Colombian living in NYC, started her MiLegaSí business based on her own experience as a mom, and her purpose is to preserve and celebrate the Latino culture for our children and future generations while supporting Latino artists, small businesses, and Latino charities.
“Mamás will receive a box filled with 5-6 items that will help them connect with their cultura, create with their young child, and carry on their familia’s traditions. Items will include items such as preschool bilingual or Spanish books, bilingual toys or games, craft projects, family activities to help moms document and tell their familia’s history, and feel good and feel proud items just for the Mamá,” Janny shared.
Celebritay taking care of your beauty in and out
Elizabeth “Liz” Santiago, founder and CEO Celebritay
The second registered contestant is our own Contributor Elizabeth “Liz” Santiago, founder and CEO of Celebritay, a brand of all natural products. Elizabeth is a Holistic Health & Skincare coach emphasizing on healthier digestive system. She studied Ayurvedic and Holistic nutrition with Dr. Naina Marbali at Ayurvedic Beauty School and has nominal background in the field of Western medicine.
Established in 1998, CeleBritAy is an award-winning, eco-friendly skin care company specializing in hand-crafted raw and organic skincare products packaged in recyclable materials.
“As a Holistic health and skincare coach emphasizing on healthier lifestyle and the digestive system, I help people understand the connection between unhealthy habits, depression, and their skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea,” she explained to LatinasinBusiness.us.
“As busy parents, spouses and entrepreneurs, it is important to give it your all. But how can you do that if you are constantly tired, overwhelmed and unfocused? It all starts with one simple, doable change at a time and a can-do attitude. Once you do this, your journey of a healthier lifestyle no matter how busy you are can begin,” Elizabeth said.
Interested in signing up for this amazing Pitch your Business Competition?
Latina SmallBiz Expo and Pitch your Biz Competition
If you or someone you know is interested in signing up for this amazing competition happening on November 9 in Newark, New Jersey, please find information about this fab event on our Facebook page Latina SmallBiz Expo or register here to become one of the lucky contestants to participate and be the Star for One Night! For additional information, email Susana@latinasinbusiness.us/ or call 848 238 6090.
Table and Pitch $150 (you will receive 15 tickets to sell to your friends, family and clients). Bring your product to sell at the event for the pre-Holiday Season!
Best of luck to all participants!
I became an Ambassador for the SHCCNJ since I saw the opportunity to make a difference in our community of Hispanic business owners and especially Latinas throughout the state of New Jersey. I felt it was necessary to share my passion for Digital Marketing through utilizing my talents in an organization that is dedicated to awakening the #Familia spirit in all of us in order to support and celebrate each other’s success. I am proud to be a SHCCNJ SMA.
I stand strong behind the mission and vision of the SHCCNJ as I am representing the female minority Hispanic small business owners in the state of NJ. We Hispanics are a power that no one can stop. We contribute to our national business wealth by starting businesses and hiring others. I personally have benefited a great deal from being a SMA and learning from SHCCNJ leadership. My family and I are grateful for all the SHCCNJ has done for my small business.
I became a SMA because I like to Pay it Forward. Influences from Jaime Flores, a former BCC Latino-American Professor changed my path in 2004. I continue to move forward with my Latino ESL students (present and former) by encouraging them to accomplish their goals and help others in their community. They also encouraged me to move beyond the classroom and into the general public (at BCC Hackensack-Ciarco, the Paramus Library, and The BCC Cerullo Learning Assistance Center). I appreciate having the ability to continue the advancement of Latino diversity in business, academics and culture.
I heard about the SHCCNJ through a business partner, and was intrigued by an organization that cared about Hispanic Entrepreneurs and provided the resources and support to help them succeed. When I did my research, I found out it was not only the largest Chamber in NJ, but also its mission –helping small businesses grow- was part of my beliefs. I am excited about the opportunities to help business owners to growth and expand their business, and to be able to facilitate access to capital to make their vision be a reality.
Becoming a SMA for the SHCCNJ fell naturally for me. I really enjoyed sharing and showing all the awesome events that the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce would organize with all my clients and referral partners. I was sure that if they decided to attend any events because my “share” sparked their interest, they would make strong business relationships with other small business owners and ultimately they would join the #Familia.
The Ambassador life chose me. It felt right, it was something I grew into. I would always find my way talking social media strategy, why it is good for business, branding yourself, and most important, growth. I put a lot of time into creating content, growing my audience, and making sure I represent myself in my complete truth. In the long game, I want to help and inspire everyone to grow.
I decided to become an Ambassador for the SHCCNJ because I feel this Chamber genuinely cares about the small business owners and will help however they could. If they do not have the answers, they direct you to the people who do. As a small business owner, in the beginning you feel lost and alone but as my social media presence grew, then I realized I could help others too. This is one way I do it.
As an active Chamber member, sharing online came natural to me. However, online outreach to the membership and building an online community takes time and a lot of effort. Having a group of SMAs made things easier for everyone. All associations and cause-based organizations should have online advocates or ambassadors. It just makes sense!
